Gas-trap for wells



E. FORREST. GAS TRAP FOR WELLS. APPLICATION FILED mmme. 1920.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920....

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UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

EDWIN FORREST, or CANEY, KANSAS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN FoRRns'r, a-

adapted for use in oil and gas wells.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide novel means by which liquid, such as water, may be removed from a well without permitting gas contained in the well to escape.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of the kind described which is wholly automatic in operation, which is simple in construction, cheap to make and install, is not liable to get out of order, which is durable, and which is eflicient in operation, and adapted to be installed in any well.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my in;

vention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved. apparatus, the upper portion of the eduction conductor being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but 100];- ing in a direction at right angles to that in which Fig l is viewed. 1

.Fig. 3, g. 4 and Fig. 5 are cross sections on the lines 33, 4-4 and 55 respectively of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the difierent views.

1 designates the casing with which gas and oil wells are usually provided. In the casing 1 is located the eduction conductor for liquid comprising the following described parts.

2 is a vertical pipe which extends to and discharges at the surface of the ground, the upper portion of the pipe being omitted. The lower end of the pipe 2 is mounted m a coupling 3 which has screw threaded engagement with the upper end of a-vertical tubular fitting 4 having a passage 5 whlch discharges into the coupling 3. The lower end ofthe fitting 4 is nternally screw threaded and has fitte Specification of Letters Patent.

therein a hol- GAS-TRAP non. WELLS.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Application filed March 29, 1920. Serial No. 369,644.

lowscrew plug 6 which is closed at the bottom, and above its bottom having one or more lateral openings 7 adapted to admit water or oil and respectively covered by screen wire 8 which prevents the entrance of coarse particles, such as dirt or rock.

The fitting 4 has a vertical central chamber 9 and lateral slots or openings 10 communicating with the chamber 9 and adapted to admit water or oil therethrough from the interior of the casing 1. The chamber 9 does not communicate directly with the passage 5, but does so through the intermediacy of a vertical tubular member 11, which has a threaded upper end fitted in a threaded hole in the fitting 4, the tubular member 11 extending into the hollow plug 6 to a point below the lower ends of the openings 7 but not to the closed bottom of the plug. A liquid seal is thus formed which admits liquid into the member 11, at the lower end thereof, but which excludes gaseous fluid, such as the gas which is ordinarily present in oil and gas wells.

To prevent gas "from entering the eduction conductor through the member 11, when the liquid in the well falls below a given point, the member 11 is provided with two valve seats 12 and 13, disposed one above the other and adapted to be simultaneously engaged by two seat portions 14 and 15 respectively of a vertically movable valve 16 in the member 11 to the upper end of which is attached the lower end of a float 17 which is mounted in the chamber 9 and which is adapted to be lifted by liquid entering the chamber 9 through the lateral slots 10, when the liquid in the well rises to a point sulficiently high for the buoyancy of the float to overcome the weight of the float and valve 16.

The tubular member 11 intermediate of the valve seats 12 and 13 is provided with one or more lateral discharge openings 18 which tion conductor having been inserted into the well through the casing 1., so that the fitting is near the bottom of the well, the weight of the valve 16 and float 17 will cause the valve to automatically close, as shown, when the oil or water in the well is not of a height sufiicient to lift the float.

The pressure of the gas in the well operatliquid, such as water or oil, will enter the upper and lower ends of the tubular member 11 past the valve 16 which the float has lifted to the open position. The liquid will then pass through the openings 18 into the passage 5 of the fitting 4 and thence through the coupling 3 into the eduction pipe 2 from which the oil or water will be discharged at I the surface of the. ground. The gas will be retained in the casing 1 from which it may be taken when desired.

The gas pressure in the well will cause the water or oil which has lifted the float to be discharged into the eduction conductor.

When the liquid in the well lowers to' a predetermined point the float will lower and cause the valve 16 to close unless there is a continual flow of liquid into the casing 1. If such flow is suflicient, the float will stay abovelthe fully closed position, thus permitting the water or oil to be discharged through the eduction conductor pipe 2 as fast as it enters the well.

It will be noted that the valve seat 12 is disposed lower than the lower ends of the outer sides of the-slots 10, thus affording a liquid seal above said seat, which keeps gas from passing downwardly into the member 11.

With my invention the removal of the water and oil from a well is effected auto matically and cheaply without permitting the escape of any gas with the water or oil. A very great saving may thus be effected with the use of my invention.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as modifications within the scope of the appended claims,

may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I' claim is 1. In a gas trap for wells, an eduction conductor for liquid having an inlet for liquid, a trap controlling said inlet which permits liquid to enter the inlet but which excludes gaseous fluid, a valve which nor mally closes said inlet, and means actuated by liquid rising to a predetermined height around said conductor for opening said valve, substantially as set forth.

2. In a gas trap for wells, an eduction conductor for liquid having an inlet for liquid, a trap which excludes gaseous fluid from said inlet but which permits liquid to enter the inlet, a valve which normally closes. said inlet, and a float arranged to be' lifted by liquid rising around said conductor and connected with said valve for opening the valve when the liquid rises to a predetermined height around said conductor, substantially as set forth.

3. In a gas trap for wells, an eduction conductor forliquid having an inlet, means for creatin a liquid seal for preventing the entrance 0 gaseous fluid into said inlet but which permits the entrance of liquid, a valve which normally closes said inlet, and a float engaging said valve and arranged to open the valve when liquid rises to a predetermined height around said conductor and lifts said float, substantially as set forth.

' L'In a as trap for wells, an eduction conductor or liquid having an inlet, and means automatically actuated by which gaseous liquid will be excluded from said inlet when liquidin the well is below a predetermined point and which permits the entrance of liquid into said inlet and excludes gaseous fluid therefrom when the liquid in the well rises to or above said point, substantially as set forth. 1

5. In a as trap for wells, an eduction conductor or liquid adapted for insertion into a well and arranged to discharge liquid at the surface of the ground and having an inlet for liquid, liquid sealing means which prevents theentrance of gaseous fluid into the inlet when liquid in the well is above a predetermined point in the well, a valve arranged to automatically close said inlet when the liquid in thewell falls below said point, and a float engaging said valve and arranged to be lifted by liquid and to open said valve, when liquid in the well rises above said point, substantially as set forth.

6. In a gas trap for wells, an eduction conductor for liquid having an inlet, a substantially balanced valve arranged to normally close said inlet, liquid sealing means.

for said inlet which prevents entrance of gaseous fluid into the inlet when liquid in the well rises to a predetermined point but which permits the entrance of liquid into the inlet, andafloat connected with and arranged to open said valve when liquid in the well rises to or above said point, {;sub-' stantially as set forth.

7. In a gas trap for wells, an eduction conductor for liquid adapted for insertion into a well and arranged to discharge at the surface of the ground, and having an inlet provided with two ports provided respectively with valve seats, a valve arranged to seat by gravity in said seats and a apted to be subjected to pressure fromthe exterior of the conductor at both ends and in opposite directions, and a float engaging said valve and adapted to open the valve when liquid in the well rises to a predetermined point, substantially as set forth.

8. In a gas trap for wells, an eduction condu'ctor adapted for insertion into a well and arranged to discharge at the surface of the ground and having mounted in its lower portion a vertical tubular member having two valve seats disposed one above the other, liquid being adapted to enter said member at both ends, said member having intermediate of said two seats an outlet discharging into said conductor, a valve having two seat portions adapted to ectively seat on said valve seat simultaneously.

and a float connected to and adapted to lift and open said valve when liquid-m the well rises to a predetermined point, the float and valve being arranged to close by gravit y when the liquid in the well falls below said point, substantially as set forth.

a gas trap for wells, an eduction conductor for liquid adapted for insertion into a well and arranged to discharge at the surface of the ground, said conductor having an opening in one side near its lower end and having a closed lower end, a vertical tubular member mounted in said conductor and having its open lower end extending below said openm thereby forming with the conductor a hquid seal which admits liquid into the tubular member but which excludes gaseous fluid from the lower end, said-conductor having a lateral opening above the upper end of said tubular member, said tubular member having two valve seats one above the other, and an outlet intermediate of said seats discharging into said conductor, a valve having two seat portions adapted to respectively slmultaneously seat in said two valve seats, the valve having substantially equal areas respectively subjective to upward and down ward pressure, and a float-connected to said valve and adapted to lift and open the valve when liquid in the well rises to a predetermined point, the valve and float bein arranged to close by falls below said pomt, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWIN FORREST.

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